SANTA FE ― The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) will not conduct the previously announced prescribed burn near Nichols Reservoir in the lower Santa Fe Municipal Watershed today, April 5.

After reviewing conditions on the ground, including recent precipitation, and forecasted weather and winds, fire managers decided to postpone the burn. Ventilation is expected to be good during the day on Friday, but low winds overnight could cause smoke to settle over the area early Saturday.

Fire managers will look for a window next week to proceed with aerial and hand ignitions on up

This project consists of running a tool, normally called a pig, inside the pipeline to assess the integrity of the pipe itself. The project starts at Los Alamos West, near the Quemazon community, down to Los Alamos East, which is right off N.M. 502 and Camino Entrada.

At some point during this project, blowing down small amounts of gas at Los Alamos West is required to put the tool inside the line and gas venting will be necessary at the Los Alamos East station for a

Fire managers may conduct a prescribed burn as early as Tuesday near the Nichols Reservoir on the Santa Fe National Forest. Courtesy photo

SFNF News:

SANTA FE ― Fire managers on the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) plan to proceed with the previously announced prescribed burn near Nichols Reservoir in the lower Santa Fe Municipal Watershed as early as April 2, if conditions, including fuel moisture levels, air quality, wind direction and weather forecasts, remain favorable.

Up to 500 acres, including 50 acres of piles, will be treated with hand and aerial ignitions.

Los Alamos Deputy Fire Chief Steve Dawald, right, and Battalion Chief Jeff Wetteland at the scene of the Omega Fire that consumed four acres this afternoon in Los Alamos Canyon. The fire is now 100 percent contained. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Scene this afternoon of the Omega Fire that consumed four acres today in Los Alamos Canyon. The fire is now 100 percent contained. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Los Alamos firefighters on scene this afternoon have now completely contained the Omega Fire. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Firefighters are on scene of a 4 acre fire burning in Los Alamos Canyon. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

COUNTY News:

The Los Alamos Fire Department has 25 firefighters responding to a 4 acre fire down in Los Alamos Canyon now known as the Omega Fire burning near the Canyon Rim Trailhead - eastern edge of Los Alamos, south side, across N.M. 502 and the Los Alamos Co+op Market and Holiday Inn Express.

LAFD reports there is no crowning at this time and the fire line is moving east in the canyon with 50 percent containment and making positive progress, however, smoke is still visible.

The Los Alamos Fire Department has 25 firefighters responding to a 3 to 5 acre fire down in Los Alamos Canyon near the Canyon Rim Trailhead - eastern edge of Los Alamos, south side, across NM502 and the LA Co-Op and Holiday Inn Express.

LAFD reports there is no crowning at this time. The fire line is moving east in the canyon. No containment. Smoke is visible. Please avoid this area - N.M. 502 eastbound is not closed at this time but this is an active fire fighting scene.

Update - Los Alamos firefighters are working a fire down in the canyon near the Canyon Rim Trailhead on the eastern edge of Los Alamos and the southside of N.M. 502 across from the Los Alamos Co+op Market. Caution: N.M. 502 eastbound is not closed at this time but this is an active fire fighting scene so motorists and hikers are urged to avoid the area. Check back for more on this developing story. Photo by James Liberty

Los Alamos firefighters are working a fire that erupted this afternoon in Los Alamos Canyon west of the Canyon Rim Trail parking lot. Deputy Fire Chief Steve Dawald asks everyone to avoid the area if at all possible until further notice. Check back for more on this developing story. Photo by Delbert Romero/ladailypost.com

Scene from fire underway in Los Alamos Canyon west of the Canyon Rim Trail parking lot. Los Alamos Firefighters are pouring water in the blaze. Check back for more on this developing story. Photo by Delbert Romero/ladailypost.com

SANTA FE ― The Greater Santa Fe Fireshed Coalition is hosting a workshop based on the recent report “A Statement of Common Ground Regarding the Role of Wildfire in Forested Landscapes of the Western United States.”

The Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Los Alamos Field Office is preparing a Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the Wildfire Hazard Reduction and Forest Health Improvement Program at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

The SEA will evaluate and document changes in the LANL management of forest health and wildfire mitigation procedures since the publication of the 2000 Environmental Assessment for the Wildfire Hazard Reduction and Forest Health Improvement Program at LANL (EA).

On the job in Los Alamos is LAFD Firefighter Mike McElyea training the Los Alamos County Chaplain Corps and the LANL Behavior Health Response Team on the national program, Stop the Bleed, March 12 at Los Alamos County Fire Administration. McElyea explains it is the same as putting your oxygen mask on first before assisting others and trained how to self administer a tourniquet. Photo by Jenn Bartram/ladailypost.com

SANTA FE ―Glorieta Camps, The Nature Conservancy’s Rio Grande Water Fund and the Forest Stewards Guild plan to take advantage of favorable conditions, including moisture levels, air quality, wind direction, and weather forecasts to initiate a prescribed burn Friday, March 15 at Glorieta Camps, west of Pecos.

This burn will be implemented by the All Hands All Lands Burn Team (Burn Team), which is a fully qualified team designed to lead or support prescribed burns across a variety of land jurisdictions in the Water Fund landscapes of Northern New Mexico and

SANTA FE ―Glorieta Camps, The Nature Conservancy’s Rio Grande Water Fund and the Forest Stewards Guild plan to take advantage of favorable conditions, including moisture levels, air quality, wind direction, and weather forecasts, and initiate a prescribed burn at Glorieta Camps, west of Pecos, as early as Monday March 11.

SANTA FE ― Fire managers on the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) plan to take advantage of favorable conditions, including fuel moisture levels, air quality, wind direction and weather forecasts, to initiate a prescribed burn in the Santa Fe Municipal Watershed on the Española Ranger District as early as Monday, March 18.

Exact dates will be dependent on fuel conditions on site.

Up to 500 acres near Nichols Reservoir in the lower Watershed, including 50 acres of piles, will be treated with hand and aerial ignitions.

SANTA FE ― Fire managers on the Jemez Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest are working with communities to reduce the risk of wildfire by conducting a prescribed burn at the Thompson Ridge slash pit this spring.

The half-acre slash pit, located at the end of Forest Road 106 just north of the community of Thompson Ridge and ten miles north of Jemez Springs, is a collaborative effort between the Jemez Ranger District and the surrounding area to promote fire-adapted communities in the wildland-urban interface (WUI).

SANTA FE – Two bills to provide support for New Mexico’s firefighters have passed the House Labor, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee.

House Bill 324, sponsored by Rep. Deborah Armstrong (D-Albuquerque) and Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-Albuquerque), would amend the Occupational Disease and Disablement Law to add post-traumatic stress disorder to the list of conditions that are presumed to be caused by a firefighter’s employment.

SANTA FE ― Fire managers on the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) plan to take advantage of favorable conditions, including fuel moisture levels, air quality, wind direction and weather forecasts, to initiate a prescribed burn in Pacheco Canyon on the Española Ranger District as early as Monday, March 18.

Exact dates will be dependent on fuel conditions on site.

The 500-acre unit is adjacent to Forest Road (FR) 102, approximately six miles east of Tesuque Pueblo and three miles west of Ski Santa Fe.

House Bill 439 would establish an Enhanced 911 Advisory Board to work with the Department of Finance Administration and the Department of Information Technology, among other partners, to guide the enhanced 911 fund in improving its efficiency and transition to Next Generation technology.

According to a March 2018 Legislative Finance Report, “upgrading 911 systems to Next

Sen. Mimi Stewart’s bill to improve fire safety in schools, hospitals and other public buildings by requiring the Public Regulation Commission to update inspection guidelines for smoke and fire dampers passed the Senate on Tuesday.

Specifically, SB 143 directs the PRC to establish rules that would allow certified technicians who install smoke and fire dampers to also inspect dampers and report damage or needed repairs.

“Smoke and fire dampers are in almost every school, every hospital and